Polar and glacial ice levels
Glaciers are considered among the most sensitive indicators of climate change, advancing when climate
cools and retreating when climate warms.
The sea level will rise above its current level if more glacier and polar ice melts. However, compared to
the ice ages, today there are very few continental ice sheets remaining. It is estimated that Antarctica, if
fully melted, would add more than 60 metres of sea level rise, and Greenland would add more than 7
metres. Small glaciers and ice caps on the margins of Greenland and the Antarctic Peninsula might
contribute about 0.5 metres. The time it will take for the glaciers and ice caps to completely melt cannot
be certain since the melted ice water flows under and lubricates the larger ice sheets, they could begin
to move much more rapidly towards the sea.
Rising Sea Levels
Two primary influences that affect the volume or mass of the ocean(sea level) are temperature, which
affects the volume of the water, and the masses of water on land and sea such as fresh water in rivers,
lakes, and glaciers. Over time, changes in the shape of freshwater basins and land/sea distribution will
affect the sea levels.
Each year, about 8 mm of water from the whole ocean surface falls into Antarctica and Greenland as
snowfall. If no ice returned to the oceans, sea level would drop 8 mm each year. At first, the same
amount of water seemed to return to the ocean in icebergs and from ice melting at the edges.
What are the impacts?
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Damage to coastal communities and infrastructure
Harm to human acitvities such as agriculture, fisheries, transportation, and recreation
Increased erosion and decreased coastal stability
Negative effects to human health and safety, emergency preparedness and the maintenance
and repair of coastal infrastructure
Habitat loss, causing harm to many coastal and marine species
Changes in water quality because of salt-water intrusion
Changing wind and precipitation patterns:
Mountains have a big influence on the atmosphere, this is because of the fact that they alter the flow of
the air and it responds differently to solar radiation compared to the surrounding atmospheres. As a
result, some places have enhanced precipitation and some places have decreased amounts of
precipitation. these various precipitation patterns can affect the shape of landforms by directly altering
the rates of erosion processes or indirectly through their influence on mountain ecosystems.
(http://serc.carleton.edu/vignettes/collection/25201.html)
The winds in the Southern Ocean have changed over time; however these intensifying winds in the
Southern Ocean have had little influence on the strength of the Southern Ocean circulation. The
Southern Ocean slows the rate of greenhouse warming by removing carbon dioxide from the
atmosphere and storing it in the ocean.
(http://www.redorbit.com/news/science/1607530/changing_winds_do_not_affect_southern_ocean/in
dex.html)
The changes in wind patterns have a great impact on ice in the waters; studies show that changes in
wind patterns are one of the primary causes of sea ice disturbances.
(http://www.epalawsuit.com/the-science/)
Changes in the precipitation are very influential on the climate. One reason why the precipitation
pattern is changing is because of the pollution being increased and the temperature changing
constantly, this may speed up the precipitation, example global warming and car pollution. Another
factor is more water in the oceans and seas, there is more evaporation happening therefore there is
going to be more precipitation.
Some signs that there is going to be change in precipitation are change in clouds, they could become
dark, change in temperature, and change of colour in the sky.
Wetlands:
Wetlands have unique soil that allows them to change the conditions that lead to a flood, wetlands are
good for purifying water and it is habitat to many animals as well. Common forms of wetlands are
marshes, swamps, river banks. Wetlands are shrinking because some of them are being turned into a
farm for agriculture. However the main things shrinking the wetlands are temperatures, drainage,
pollution and development in the areas. The wetlands are shrinking because of these factors. Having a
lot of drainage, and development near wetlands could be a major indicator that the wetlands may be
shrinking.
Loss of Forest:
Loss of forest is a problem; forests play an important role in local climate regulation by their interaction
with water cycles. Rainforests also have a significant effect on global weather as well, rainforest have
the property of absorbing more heat than soil. The loss of forest means less heat is absorbed, that leads
to having less moisture going back into the atmosphere. (http://rainforests.mongabay.com/0906.htm)
The amount of rain received is also affected when forest clearing fires are used; this causes air pollution
and the release of particles known as aerosols into the atmosphere. Other causes of loss of forest are
things such as bugs; an example is a beetle that feasts on trees.
Increasing Sea Acidity:
Increasing levels of acidity in the world’s oceans are caused by the excess emission of carbon dioxide in
the Earth’s atmosphere from the burning of fossil fuels. They are a threat to many sea creatures.
Oceans absorb about one third of the CO2 released into the atmosphere, and when the CO2 dissolves
in water, it forms carbonic acid, which alters the ocean’s chemical balance. Acidic ocean water can
cause seashells to dissolve and species’ populations to decline.
Polar and glacier ice levels
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As the earth’s climate warms, the polar and glacier ice will melt; when the climate cools, the ice
will expand.
As polar and glacier ice melts, the sea levels rise.
As the ice melts, the melted ice lubricates the ice below, increasing the rate at which the ice will
disappear.
Rising Sea Levels
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Two factors that affect the sea level are temperature and the masses of water on land and sea
such as fresh water in rivers, lakes, and glaciers.
Over time, changes in the shape of freshwater basins and land/sea distribution will affect the
sea levels.
Changing Wind and Precipitation Patterns
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The changes in wind patterns have a great impact on ice in the waters; studies have shown that
changes in wind patterns are one of the primary causes of sea ice disturbances.
Changes in precipitation patterns may indicate that there is too much pollution from our carbon
dioxide emissions from technology.
Loss of Forest
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Loss of forests affect the local climate regulation by their interaction with water cycles.
Loss of forests means less heat is absorbed, leading to having less moisture going back into the
atmosphere.
When forest clearing fires are used, air is polluted with aerosol.
Increasing Sea Acidity
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Sea acidity is caused by the excess emissions of CO2 in the Earth’s atmosphere from the burning
of fossil fuels.
When ocean absorbs a third of the CO2 in the atmosphere, carbonic acid is formed, which alters
the ocean’s chemical balance.
Acidic water endangers variety of species in the sea.
Assessment
Indicators and Causes of Earth’s Changing Climate
Q1. What are the six indicators and causes of Earth’s climate change?
A: Polar and glacier ice levels, rising sea levels, changing wind and precipitation patterns, loss of forest,
increasing sea acidity.
Q2: What are some of the negative impacts of rising sea levels?
A:
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Damage to coastal communities and infrastructure
Harm to human acitvities such as agriculture, fisheries, transportation, and recreation
Increased erosion and decreased coastal stability
Negative effects to human health and safety, emergency preparedness and the maintenance
and repair of coastal infrastructure
Habitat loss, causing harm to many coastal and marine species
Changes in water quality because of salt-water intrusion
Q3: How does losing wetlands and forests affect the climate?
A: Loss of forests means less trees interacting with water cycles, less heat is absorbed (less moisture will
go back into atmosphere), and if forests are cleared by fire, the air will be polluted and aerosols will be
released into the atmosphere.
Q4: What causes the sea water to become acidic?
A: The excess emissions of carbon dioxide in the Earth’s atmosphere from the burning of fossil fuels.
The Earth’s Energy Budget
Q1: What is incoming and outgoing energy?
A: Incoming energy is energy coming towards the earth. Outgoing energy is energy that is reflected off
the Earth.
Q2: How much solar energy is reflected off the Earth? How much is absorbed by the Earth?
A: 30% is reflected off the Earth, while 70% is absorbed by the Earth and reradiated into space.
Q3: “A modification factor for the Earth’s energy budget is greenhouse gas emissions that rise to the
atmosphere and reflects the reradiated rays back into the Earth.” – True or False?
A: True